US Open star once confessed 'I wanted to marry Novak Djokovic'

Novak Djokovic is adored in the world of tennis and will be aiming to win his fifth US Open title next month. And US Open star Marta Kostyuk previously revealed she wanted to marry the Serbian when she was growing up.

Djokovic has won a record 24 men's Grand Slam titles, two more than Rafael Nadal managed and four more than Roger Federer could muster. And just one more triumph at a Major would move the 38-year-old ahead of Margaret Court at the top of the all-time Grand Slam title leaderboard. The veteran is due to take on Learner Tien in his opening match in New York, with the tournament scheduled to get underway on Sunday.

Ukrainian tennis star Kostyuk has qualified for her sixth US Open after reaching the third round of the event last year.

The 23-year-old has been drawn to face Katie Boulter in her opening match, with the Briton winning a three-set thriller in San Diego last year on the only other occasion the duo have met.

Like many tennis players, Kostyuk was in awe of Djokovic as a youngster. And during a post-match interview in 2018, she explained: "I loved to watch Novak Djokovic. Until I was nine, I thought he is going to be my husband."

Kostyuk, who is ranked at No. 29 in the world, has endured a tough year on the court and fell at the first hurdle at the French Open and Wimbledon after reaching the third round of the Australian Open in January.

Her best performance at a Grand Slam came in Australia last year when she progressed all the way to the quarter-finals before losing to Coco Gauff.

She has fared better in the doubles, however, and has reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open and the French Open in the past.

Djokovic is the third favourite to win the men's competition in New York, with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz regarded as the two players to beat.

And ahead of the tournament, the veteran explained: "Obviously I didn't have any matches since Wimbledon but I've put in a lot of training in the last three to four weeks.

"I decided not to play because I wanted to spend more time with my family. And to be honest I think I've earned my right and have the luxury of picking and choosing where I want to go and what I want to play. My focus is mostly on the Slams and I've said that before."